News

We invite our community to join The Arc in spreading awareness of the strengths and talents of those living with developmental disabilities. Every March we use the National Awareness month as an opportunity to educate our community and to spark interest in our mission and we want your help.

Throughout the month we are asking our friends to change their cover page banner picture to the one we have created with the #DDAwaremessage as well as the #DisabilityNotDefinition. You can click the image and once it opens simply right click it and then click Save as picture. You then have it to post as your cover page.

If you have a loved one with a developmental disability you could change your profile picture to them for the month or use The Arc’s profile picture created for the month.

When posting your pictures or sharing any of our awareness posts throughout the month on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram, use the #DDAware hashtag as well as #DisabilityNotDefinition and one of the Unstoppable slogans #IAmUnstoppable#WeAreUnstoppable#BeUnstoppable

We want the world to know that our friends and familiy members are Not Defined by a Disability and that they let nothing hold them back from pesusing their dreams… they are Unstoppable

YESS Program Embarks on it’s 28th Summer

Wichita, KAN. June 4, 2015 –

The Arc of Sedgwick County officially kicked off it’s 28th year of the YESS (Youth Education Summer Socialization) program last Monday, May 26.

YESS is a 10 week summer program that serves students ages 5-21 with developmental disabilities. The program provides education, recreation and day trips for students. It is designed to help students retain what they have learned during the school year, while developing improved communication and socialization skills.

The program serves over 100 students per week.

YESS runs 11 weeks throughout the summer Monday-Friday until August 7, 2015.

Justice Baker Named 2017 “Miss Unstoppable”

Wichita, KAN.—Justice Baker was crowned as the 2017 “Miss Unstoppable” at this year’s “Miss Unstoppable” Pageant, Saturday, April 8, at South High School in Wichita.

This was the 4th annual “Miss Unstoppable” Pageant hosted by The Arc of Sedgwick County. The pageant is catered to girls with intellectual/developmental disabilities, providing them with an opportunity that they might not otherwise have.

This year’s pageant featured 31 incredible girls ranging from ages eight to fifty-five years old. Age divisions were split up into five categories: Little Miss, Teen, Young Miss, Miss and Shooting Star.

The competition was full of poise, talent, personality and beauty. The girls competed in an interview, evening gown and talent portion. The high level of competition made judging difficult, but it was Justice who won the judges over in the end.

KAKE Article covering the Tri-County Basketball Special Education League

THE DIFFERENCE ONE PARENT CAN MAKE! BY Marty Rothwell

I often hear parents who ask why The Arc events aren’t in the media more often. Although The Arc sends many invitations and news story ideas, most are rejected because of conflicting events, non- interest, timelines and/ or breaking news. Last Thursday night, a parent of a Levy Legend basketball player who competes in The Arc’s Tri County High School Basketball League was standing in line at Subway to purchase a meal. Standing next to her she recognized the sports news caster from TV 10. She asked him if he had ever heard or our league and told him what a great sports story it would make. She offered to buy his dinner, if he would just stop by Friday and take a look at the competition at the YMCA Garvey facility.

As promised, he attended the games and was blown away. He stayed for over an hour shooting footage and doing interviews. As he left, he stated he would feature this story on Friday night at 6 and 10. The story he shared with the community about The Arc’s Tri County Basketball League was simply outstanding. For someone new to our community and new to this league it took him all of about 20 minutes to figure out the story would be very special to many people. I have received numerous phone calls and over 30, people mostly strangers, have informed me they saw this news story and how impressed they were. One phone call told me he coached a little league basketball team and they would be attending The Arc madness tournament to support our players and to teach his players what heart is all about. The story was featured on Friday and Saturday on several news casts. If you have not seen it, click here.

Sometimes the contact to the media has to come with a personal touch. Just look what the cost of a meatball sandwich resulted in. It is the old story of who do you know and who do they know. We all know how important community awareness is but it is up to each of us to make that awareness a reality. If you have any media contacts or media ideas please contact Mary Brown at The Arc 943-1191 or contact Marty Rothwell at the same number. One person can and did make the difference…